Ofcom starts search for new chief

British media regulator Ofcom has stepped up its search for a new CEO following the departure of Sharon White in June.

White stepped down from the role to join the John Lewis Partnership as chairman on a reportedly near-£1m salary.

As reported by the Financial Times, recruitment company Russell Reynolds has started advertising the Ofcom chief exec role. 

The paper identifies several top civil servants and leading regulators that have been linked with the role.

These include Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the Competition and Markets Authority, and Christopher Woolard, strategy and competition director at the Financial Conduct Authority. The pair previously had stints at Ofcom.

Also identified are civil servants Alex Chisholm and Philip Rutnam, currently working as  permanent secretary at the department for business, energy and industrial strategy, and permanent secretary at the Home Office respectively. The latter previously served as an Ofcom strategist. 

The paper notes that the future Ofcom boss will need to have strong connections with Westminster in order to appropriately regulate the implementation of 5G, superfast fixed line broadband infrastructure and content standards in an increasingly digital landscape.